IT. PEEFACE. 



Horses, like haman beings, have advanced in civilization, 

 and the diseases to which they are liable are greatly changed ; — 

 they are not marked by that acute sthenic character so peculiar 

 to those forms of equine disease which prevailed in the " good 

 old times ; " while many diseases have all but disappeared, and 

 new ones have come into existence. 



The assertion that horses, like human beings, have advanced 

 in civilization, may appear strange and startling ; of its truth, 

 however, I have no doubt. It is generally admitted that, 

 during the last century, the br^ed of horses in this country has 

 materially improved. Now improvement in the breed of either 

 a horse or any otiber animal cannot exist, unless the quality of 

 the nervous system be also improved — the former, in fact, 

 implies the latter ; and as the faculties of the intelligence of 

 theanimal are resident within, and dependent upon, the ner- 

 vous system — and as it is a fact that the Horse has improved 

 in breed — and as the fact of his being an intelligent and 

 reasoning animal cannot be disproved — and as he occupies 

 that intimate relation to man which he does, the assertion that 

 lie has advanced in civilization may not, upon due considera- 

 tion, appear very extravagant. The animal is placed amid 

 elements, the operation of which must necessarily advance him, 

 in civilization. 



Assuming these statements to be true, two questions are 

 presented for examination : 1st — How is this change in equine 

 disease to be satisfactorily accounted for ? 2nd — "What rela- 



